Therapeutic Stuffed Animal

ABSTRACT

A kit for coping with emotional stress is disclosed. The kit includes a stuffed animal having an interior pouch that may be opened or closed. One example of a stuffed animal is a stuffed bear with a pouch accessible from the back. A message pad having individual blank messages for expressions by a person affected by emotional stress is included. Each message may have a shape such as a heart and be used for coping with separation or loss. A therapeutic booklet is provided having instructions for writing messages and inserting the messages in the interior pouch.

PRIORITY

The present application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/360,280 filed on Jun. 30, 2010 and incorporates the contents of that application in its entirety by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to therapeutic devices and more specifically to a stuffed animal that includes a pouch for messages to assist in coping with separation or loss.

BACKGROUND

There has been a need to help children and families cope with grief and separation from a loved one. In particular, therapeutic tools are in demand that may be used to help people cope with death and separation (e.g. military leave, divorce, business travel, relatives living far away) or any other life-changing occurrence that may cause a person to grieve. Currently there is not a stuffed animal style therapeutic tool or memory-making keepsake on the market designed specifically to help children and adults cope with separation or loss.

There is therefore a need for a therapeutic tool that allows children and adults deal with separation or loss. There is a further need for a therapeutic tool that allows children in particular to provide a connection to cope with separation or loss.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Aspects of the present disclosure include a kit for coping with emotional stress including a stuffed animal having an interior pouch that may be opened or closed. A message pad has individual messages for expressions by a person affected by emotional stress. A therapeutic booklet has instructions for writing messages and inserting the messages in the interior pouch.

Another aspect of the present disclosure is a therapeutic tool for coping with emotional stress. The therapeutic tool includes a head having two eyes and a nose. A torso has a front end and an opposite back end. The tool includes a pair of arms and a pair of legs. A pouch in the torso has a slit allowing insertion of items of emotional significance.

The foregoing and additional aspects and implementations of the present disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments and/or aspects, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided next.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the example stuffed animal therapeutic tool;

FIG. 2 is a view of the back of the stuffed animal therapeutic tool in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view of the back of the stuffed animal therapeutic tool with the pouch opened; and

FIG. 4 is a view of the back of the stuffed animal therapeutic tool with the pouch opened with a message inserted.

While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An example therapeutic tool may be seen with reference to FIGS. 1-2 which show a front and rear view of a stuffed animal 100. In this example, the stuffed animal 100 is a bear, but other animals that are attractive to children may be used. The stuffed animal 100 includes a torso 102, two arms 104, two legs 106, and a head 108. In this example, the stuffed animal 100 has themed features such as two rounded ears 110, one heart shaped nose 112 and two eyes 114. Other shapes may be integrated into the design of the stuffed animal 100 to make the stuffed animal 100 more memorable.

In this example, the stuffed animal 100 is approximately 9 inches in height. The interior of the ears 110 are preferably a lighter shade of fabric than the rest of the stuffed animal 100 with smaller hearts. The stuffed animal 100 preferably includes the eyes 114 that are sewn on the head 108. The sewn eyes 114 are preferably round in shape and preferably dark brown with a black center. The nose 112 of the stuffed animal 100 is heart shaped in this example and is preferably made of fabric that may be a different fabric and a different color than the rest of the stuffed animal 100. The nose 112 is preferably slightly raised and sewn onto the head 108 of the stuffed animal 100. The eyes 114 are preferably sewn and the nose 112 is made from fabric or thread and sewn onto the stuffed animal 100 to decrease chances of choking hazards. The stuffed animal 100 is preferably soft to the touch and easy to squeeze when hugged. The outer material is simulated fur in this example and the fabric of the stuffed animal 100 encloses stuffing that fills out the body of the stuffed animal 100. A front stomach area 116 of the stuffed animal 100 is preferably slightly raised or formed in a potbelly shape.

Of course other dimensions may be used for the height and other features of the stuffed animal 100. For example, the stuffed animal 100 may have a height between 10 and 14 inches such as 12 inches. The eyes 114 may be different colors such as black. Also, oversized heart shaped ears between 2 and 4 inches and more preferably 3 to 3½ inches in length instead of the rounded ears 110 may be used.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the stuffed animal 100 has a back area 120 that includes a vertical opening 122 that is covered by a pair of flaps 124 and 126 that preferably are able to be opened and closed with a Velcro seal strip 128 as shown in FIGS. 3-4. The back area 120 of the stuffed animal 100 includes a pouch 130 that is lined with a cloth fabric to keep stuffing secure inside the stuffed animal 100. The flaps 124 and 126 in conjunction with the Velcro seal strip 128 may be joined to attach the two flaps 124 and 126 to enclose the pouch 130 as shown in FIG. 2. The pouch 130 in the back area 120 of the stuffed animal 100 is preferably a depth of 2 to 5 inches and more preferably 3½ to 4 inches in depth. The pouch 130 is where heart shaped messages or other special items are inserted by a person that requires therapeutic treatment for conditions such as coping with the loss or separation of a loved one.

FIG. 3 shows a heart shaped blank message 140 outside the stuffed animal 100 while FIG. 4 shows the heart shaped blank message 140 placed in the pouch 130 of the stuffed animal 100 in this example. The heart shaped blank message 140 may be taken from a heart shaped message pad 142 which is included with the stuffed animal 100 as shown in FIG. 1. The message pad 142 has blank messages such as the heart shaped blank message 140 for a person to write messages or draw on the blank message 140.

The message pad 142 in FIG. 1 is preferably made from colored paper. Similar materials such as craft foam or card stock may also be used. The heart shaped blank message 140 could also be made from different colored paper, and patterned paper or fabric. In this example, the heart shapes of the blank message 140 are 6 to 7 inches across widest part of the heart shape. In this example, the heart shaped message pad 142 that hold blank messages such as the heart shaped blank message 140 are approximately 6½ inches across widest part of the heart shape. Other sizes and shapes may be used for the blank messages for insertion in the pouch 130.

FIG. 1 also shows a booklet 150 explaining how to use Bare Heart Buddy as a therapeutic tool and memory keepsake. The booklet 150 in this example is 4 to 6 inches in vertical length and horizontal width such as 4½ inches in both horizontal width and vertical length in size. Each page of the booklet 150 may have illustrations to match the wording. A therapeutic kit will generally include the components of FIG. 1 including the stuffed animal 100, the message pad 142, the booklet 150 and a non-toxic marker, preferably black, to write on the blank heart shaped messages 140 from the message pad 142. The booklet 150 describes how to use the stuffed animal 100 as a therapeutic tool and memory-making keepsake.

As explained above, the Velcro sealing surface 128 and cloth lining of the pouch 130 in conjunction with the flaps 124 and 126 are necessary to keep the heart shaped messages and other items such as drawings and/or keepsakes such as the keepsake 144 in FIG. 4 secure within the stuffed animal 100. The lining of the pouch 130 is designed to keep all stuffing securely inside animal to decrease chances of choking hazards for young children. The hearts are necessary for expressions of feelings and memory making.

Once the stuffed animal 100 is stuffed with items of emotional significance such as the heart shaped messages and/or other keepsakes, the stuffed animal 100 serves as a therapeutic tool for a person who has experienced separation or loss. The stuffed animal 100 could possibly come in different shapes, colors and sizes. The heart shaped paper could come in different shapes, sizes and colors. The stuffed animal 100 could alternatively have a different seal for the opening in the back could possibly be sealed with another element than Velcro.

The stuffed animal 100 decreases the negative impact that separation and loss can have on a child or an adult. The use of the stuffed animal 100 in conjunction with items of emotional significance such as a message or drawing written on the blank message 140 increases positive coping through expression of thoughts and emotions by a person affected by separation or loss. Writing memories on messages such as the paper or foam heart message 140 and placing them inside the stuffed animal 100 helps provide closure and comfort when dealing with the loss or separation of a loved one. The stuffed animal 100 increases positive coping by allowing children and adults to express their feelings. The stuffed animal 100 also is a memory keepsake and serves as a therapeutic tool intended to address grief. The therapeutic booklet 150 explains how to use the stuffed animal 100 so the stuffed animal 100 can positively impact a person dealing with grief stemming from separation or loss.

One example of a therapeutic booklet 150 may include illustrations and text on the use of the stuffed animal 100. An example first page may include an illustration introducing the stuffed animal 100 as a “special buddy to keep you and your loved one close and connected” or similar introductory text. An example second page may include a description of the loss or separation of a loved one and text that indicates that the stuffed animal 100 will help the person to remember that they are not alone. An example third page may include instructions and illustrations to use the blank messages from the message pad such as the blank message 140 for writing notes or drawing pictures to help remember the loved one. An example fourth page may include examples for the notes or drawings such as sharing memories. An example fifth page may include instructions and illustrations to put items of emotional significance such as messages or other mementos from the loved one in the pouch 130 of the stuffed animal 100. An example sixth page may include instructions and illustrations to place items of emotional significance such as the messages in the pouch 130 of the stuffed animal 100 for safekeeping. An example seventh page may include instructions and illustrations that the stuffed animal 100 keeps the person and the loved one connected. An example eighth page may include instructions and illustrations that when the person misses the loved one, the stuffed animal 100 may be a mechanism for coping. An example ninth page may include instructions and illustrations that the stuffed animal 100 should be kept close to remember the connection to the loved one. Of course other pages may be added or the above described pages may be put in any order or certain pages may be excluded. The instructions and illustrations may be tailored for specific emotional conditions such as separation or loss of a loved one.

In this example, a therapeutic kit such as that in FIG. 1 is designed for a person who is separated from their loved one or when a loved one is lost. The kit includes with a stuffed animal 100, the instructional booklet 150, a heart notepad 142 that holds the blank messages such as the blank message 140 and a marker. The instructional booklet 150 may be specialized for loss or separation or other emotional conditions.

While particular implementations and applications of the present disclosure have been illustrated and described, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the precise construction and compositions disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations can be apparent from the foregoing descriptions without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. 

1. A kit for coping with emotional stress, comprising: a stuffed animal having an interior pouch that may be opened or closed; a message pad having individual messages for expressions by a person affected by emotional stress; a therapeutic booklet having instructions for writing messages and inserting the messages in the interior pouch.
 2. The kit of claim 1, wherein the emotional stress is one of coping with the loss or separation of a loved one.
 3. The kit of claim 1, wherein the stuffed animal is a bear having a head, two arms and two legs.
 4. The kit of claim 1, wherein the pouch is accessible via the back of the stuffed animal, the pouch being sealable with two flaps joined by a connecting mechanism.
 5. The kit of claim 4, wherein the connecting mechanism is Velcro.
 6. The kit of claim 1, wherein the therapeutic booklet includes instructions to insert other items of emotional significance in the pouch.
 7. A therapeutic tool for coping with emotional stress, the therapeutic tool comprising: a head having two eyes and a nose; a torso having a front end and an opposite back end; a pair of arms; a pair of legs; a pouch in the torso having a slit allowing insertion of items of emotional significance into the pouch.
 8. The therapeutic tool of claim 7, wherein the head, torso, arms and legs are formed from fabric enclosing stuffing.
 9. The therapeutic tool of claim 7, wherein the head, torso, arms and legs form a bear.
 10. The therapeutic tool of claim 7, wherein the pouch is accessible from the back of the torso and is sealed by a pair of flaps.
 11. The therapeutic tool of claim 7, further comprising a message pad having blank messages for writing messages for insertion in the pouch.
 12. The therapeutic tool of claim 7, wherein the emotional stress is coping with the separation or loss of a loved one. 